Riverford nurtures young franchise owners

With budding entrepreneurs finding it increasingly difficult to secure funding, Riverford Organic Vegetables is offering six young people the chance to launch their own businesses in the northwest of England.

The organic vegbox franchise has promised to help young people by providing them with a business start up and a development loan.

Kate Clemens, franchise recruitment manager for Riverford, said: "Traditionally, franchise owners tend to be people who have both the capital and the business experience behind them to build their own successful business. However, we are keen to open up opportunities to younger people who may not have the resources to invest but who have the raw business talent and can bring a different and dynamic approach to the business development."

Recruitment for the Riverford Academy is now under way with the company looking for bright, determined and business-minded young people.

Ms Clemens added: "The ideal candidates will probably be graduates with a couple of years' work experience behind them. However this is not a prerequisite and the successful candidates will be those who can convince Riverford that they have the drive, determination, stamina and business acumen needed to run their own thriving Riverford franchise. They will also need to share Riverford's ethics and belief in treating customers, suppliers, staff and the environment fairly while maintaining great, local, customer service standards."

Riverford Organic Vegetables was founded in 1987 and now has around 100 franchise owners operating home delivery businesses throughout the UK.